Adrian Peterson and Gerhart won't practice until Friday, at earliest

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson's sprained foot is out of a walking boot and into a pool on Wednesday, per coach Leslie Frazier.

The Vikings' plan for their injured running backs, along with Toby Gerhart's pulled hamstring, is to sit them Wednesday and Thursday and get a look at them on Friday.

"A little more optimistic with Toby [Gerhart] than I am with Adrian [Peterson]," Frazier said. "[Peterson] is a fast healer, as we all know. He can do things that most can't when it comes to coming back from injuries. He believes he's going to be ready to go."

Peterson, 28, has played through hamstring and groin injuries, but was forced out of Sunday's loss at the Baltimore Ravens after a four-yard catch ended with the NFL MVP rolling over in agony in the second quarter.

Peterson had multiple scans that ruled out everything from a broken foot to a Lisfranc injury, but his status for Sunday - and the remainder of the season - is in question.

"If [the foot] seems to be a problem, for sure [we'll sit Peterson]," Frazier said. "We'll err on the side of caution with him. We'll see how he does."

At 3-9-1, the Vikings have little to gain by playing Peterson with a bum foot. But apparently he's not at risk for further injuring the foot, it's just a matter of pain tolerance, per Frazier. The Vikings training staff will have Peterson work in a pool on Wednesday and Thursday before testing his foot out on the field on Friday.

"You want to see him move around, cut a little bit and see him do some things other than on the side," Frazier said.

Gerhart has spelled Peterson a few times this season, including in Sunday's loss. However, with a hamstring injury, it could be third-string rusher Matt Asiata getting the nod against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Peterson was listed as questionable before Sunday's loss with his groin injury, but even after another ailment - there's no question in Peterson's mind that he'll play.

"Coming up the stairs, I asked [Peterson], 'what do you think?' and he said, 'I'll be ready, coach," Frazier said. "That's Adrian, you know. So we'll see. But we'll give it a few days and see where we are at the end of the week."

Andrew Krammer covers the Minnesota Vikings for 1500ESPN.com. He previously covered the Gophers men's basketball team for the Minnesota Daily.